Peter

My heart pounds in my chest. Like a fast forwarded rhythm on a playlist.

There I stood, forcing my eyes into the back of the stone throne and ignoring the beast circling me. I passed out and found myself standing here. A dark and overshadowed part of the galaxy made of stone and regret. I couldn't remember freakin' anything.

A tall man wearing silver armour accented with green velvet. His long black hair was slicked back and he had incredibly pale skin, with bright green eyes. He stood to the side, on the steps towards the throne wearing a freakish smirk.

And the only way to describe the monster nearing me was a bipedal complete absence of light. It wasn't just blackness, it was nothing at all. He cast no shadow, made no noise and gave off no odour. He inherited no face, just glowing red eyes similar to my mask. His voice was rasping although he had no display of a mouth. And long sharp claws of darkness that he dragged across the floor, creating an irritating screech.

As his shadowed claw reaches out for me, I can hear 'his' laugh, a cruel, cold cackle that freezes me in my spot and drained all hope, dreams and feeling from within me, replacing them with a feeling of despair, hopelessness and most of all, fear.

Its sharpened claws cut through my body and wrap around my face. It choked the breath from my lungs and left my body dry heaving, desperately trying to rid me of all existence. Black mist swirled at the edges of my mind, drawing me into its open arms and leaving a tight, dry feeling in my chest. The monster's arms wrapped around my body and I screamed. Only I didn't. I strained my vocal chords but not a sound came out. I held on to the last of my breath, only to be dropped against the cold stone floor of this place.

"Your father was a great man, Peter Quill." a different voice echoed from the throne. A voice incredibly deep and eerie.

I clutched my chest and breathed shallowly, gasping for oxygen as the dark beast that had attacked me continued to laugh at my reaction and the man wearing green started to chuckle. I looked up at the turned throne, clumsily rising to my feet. I took some time to slowly comprehend his words, and then it hit me.

He was talking about my father.

Who was this – this 'person'?! How did he know my name? Where is Gamora and everyone else?

"You must be what's left." the voice continued and I practically hear him smirk in his voice, making my blood boil.

"Who-"

"I am Thanos." the voice introduced impatiently, and suddenly his floating throne begun to slowly rotate to reveal himself.

He had rough violet skin, and larger humanoid features; his hands resting calmly upon his throne, a greater chin, and a pair of icy glowing eyes as his body was iron clad with thick golden armour.

"I'll see you soon." he mustered a sinister smirk, his teeth threatening and bright.

And before I could react, the growling beast lunged towards me once more. I tried to dodge a swing from its massive claws, but it struck my side and I fell back into the cold floor. Its flaming red pits for eyes boring into mine as I faded out of consciousness.

I could hear nothing - all was silenced, the cruel laughter, the hisses of the creature, all inaudible. All I could do is feel. Feel the cold ground pressed against my form, the heat from the pain, and the rhythm of the drum that would signal my end.

All was fading and blurring blackness. Am I dead? I blinked and an abrupt image stars and splashes of the galaxy loomed my blurring vision.

"Peter" a woman whispered, seemingly close to my ear. I turned back, but no one was there.

As soon as I felt the gentle grip on my hand, I knew it was my mother.

"Let go, Peter." she whispered yet tightened her grip. "Let go…"

"LET GO!"

Rocket tugged on to his arm as it was locked under my threatingly tight grip. I quickly released, realizing all my muscles were tensed and somewhat sore.

Then I remembered.

I sat up sharply and looked up, and around at my surroundings for any stone thrones or continuous galaxy images. But all I saw was a filthy and poorly furnished spaceship, otherwise known as the Milano.

It was just a nightmare.

I must have fallen asleep while on break from flying the ship with Drax. Speaking of which, I felt the ship stiffen. We weren't flying anymore.

Rocket rubbed his arm, rotating his paw and narrowing his beady brown eyes at me "What the fuck was that?!" he exclaimed and hoped up on to the table, Groot looming over us both with a concerned expression on his wooden features.

"I'm Groot"

I tilted my head to the side, noticing that Drax and Gamora weren't in sight. I've decided to assume that we landed and they went to buy some supplies or whatever.

My heart rate was still thumping rapidly, yet not as much as before. I felt slight sweat glisten on the back of my hot neck as I managed to control my dense breathing.

Rocket sighed and then looked up at me, "You were yelling and shouting stuff, so me and Groot here came to check out what the problem was. But you freakin' grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. Guess it was a nightmare or somethin'?" Rocket explained. And I could tell he was trying to maintain his patience and keep cool since he experiences nightmares a lot and understands how it is.

I couldn't shake the feeling of being attacked, or staring into those ice-blue eyes, or holding my mother's hand…

Thanos. Why did that name sound so familiar?

"Thanos?" Rocket questioned, looking slightly confused after I realized I had spoken aloud. "Gamora's father?" Rocket asked, sitting on the edge of the table.

Gamora's adoptive father. That was it. But I still don't understand how I could see him in my dream, even though I do not know what he looks or sounds like. He spoke fondly of my father, which made a bit more sense since I recently learnt that I wasn't fully Terran.

I explained my entire dream to Rocket and Groot, who surprisingly listened well.

"I am Groot" Groot spoke to Rocket with a frown.

"Yeah me either. I'm not too sure what the black monster thing is, or the guy standing aside. Just don't worry about it, Quill." Rocket shook his head and shrugged.

But I couldn't. The dream was too clear to be forgotten.

"Gamora and the other one went to go get supplies before we start our mission. They left ages ago; they'll be back any minute now." Rocket says and hops down from the table to go open up his crates and start to organise his equipment. And bombs, that he STILL hasn't removed from my ship.

Groot turned to me with a small smile before walking over to Rocket. I never can understand those two. They are completely inseparable yet utter opposites. Did Rocket owe Groot some kind of debt? Vice versa? Seriously, how can someone like Groot be protective of someone so dangerous, like Rocket?

Why was I so protective of Gamora? I decide to leave that question unanswered, for now.

At that thought Gamora (looking as stunning as always) and Drax enter the ship holding steel boxes of food, machinery equipment and fresh water.

"Look who's finally up." Gamora says, releasing the stack of boxes on the table and crossing her arms towards Peter. "Good morning, Peter" she sing-songs in a mocking tone. Then I remembered the kiss.

I can't help but take my mind off of everything for a little while and smile at her. She continued to glare, not breaking her gaze.

I wiggled my eyebrows at her, and she simply tilted her head.

"Okay you numbskulls, now that we are all here we can find this guy and get paid. Ah, I mean get happy from helping someone…" Rocket excuses lamely, clearing his throat.

"On our journey I hope we can - ", Drax begins and he raises a finger to his neck and gestures a slicing motion.

I grin and nod, patting him on the back, feeling proud.

Gamora, Rocket and Groot frown in confusion, looking at Drax as if he had just grown another pair of arms.

"Why would you want to put your finger to your throat on our journey?" Gamora wondered, after a moment's silence.

I sigh, "It's an expression. You know, finger to throat? Meaning you're going to slice someone's neck?" I gesture with my own hands and raise my eyebrows when they all still stare.

"Slice their neck? Why not cut their entire head off?" Rocket asks as if it was the most appropriate thing to do.

"I just – why has no one ever heard of this expression?! Groot?"

Groot shrugs and continues to stare as if I was the weird one. "Just forget it, let's go…" I mutter.

"Star-Lord!" A flock of attractive Xanderian women swooned, making their way over to Gamora and I. Some had their hair pinned up and others had it flowing down. They all wore dresses, bows and grins as they rushed to my side.

"Yes." I hissed under my breath. Finally, after all this time, more people are recognising me as the ex-outlaw: Star-Lord.

Groot, Rocket and Drax split in to one group to search the east side of Xander while we searched the opposite. Even though Rocket had said that Drax is ruining their 'vibes'. So Gamora was left to me, despite her protests, which I ignored. I knew she liked me. Everyone does, especially her.

Gamora grunted at the girls and slowly tried to sneak away. Hah, not this time! I grabbed her by the arm and steered her back towards me as I grinned at the girls who started to squeal and jump with excitement. Tell me again, why didn't I save Xander earlier?

"Star-Lord! Can I feel your biceps?"
"Can you sign this?"
"Kiss me!"

One of the girls came forward, one that I instantly recognised as Bereet, also known as my most recent ex-girlfriend. She was a hottie yet she couldn't tell the difference between her left and right. "Peter!" she pushed past mounds of girls who begun to grow, elbowing and stepping on their toes with a frown.

"Bereet." I sighed. This wasn't going to be pretty.

"Peter. I've been trying to call you, but you won't answer?" she frowned with fake confusion, making her way closer and completely ignoring Gamora who stood on the sidelines.

"Maybe because we broke up? Must I recall you were the one who broke up with me because I am uncaring (yes), self-indulged (yes), and stupid (possibly)?" I remind her as she blinks her big pink eyes innocently, and twirls her skirt around.

"Oh Peter," she laughs. "It was only a joke!" she grins seductively and places a hand against my neck gingerly.

The small crowd gasps with even more excitement and starts chanting, "KISS, KISS, KISS!"

I laugh nervously, unsure how to escape this situation. I would have loved this to happen a few months ago, but now, not so much. I glanced towards Gamora who looked blank and maybe even jealous?

"Why not? We wouldn't want to disappoint a crowd, Peter." she smirks and leans forward with pink pouted lips, but I back away as if she were to bite.

"Hey!" I shout over their agitating chants and they gradually begin to slow down into silence.

I take a step away from Bereet, much to her dismay, and stand next to Gamora, "I am currently in a relationship and also currently on a mission." I say and reach down to grab Gamora's hand, intertwining our fingers together. She tugs away from my grasp but I pull tighter, and swing our hands together. I quickly kiss her hand, to add the extra touch. I can hear her stiff groans of disgust and protest but she goes along with it, even placing a fake smile to her lips.

Almost too fake.

"I could not tell you if I loved her the first moment I saw her, or if it was the second or third or fourth." I say and look towards Gamora's eyes. "But I remember the first moment I looked at her standing next to me and realized that somehow the rest of the world seemed to vanish when I was talking to her." I said quietly, and I could feel her heartbeat rise through our hands.

"So, if you don't mind, I would like some peace, perhaps?" I ask and quickly return back to the crowd, although it doesn't exactly sound like a question. More like an order.

The crowd takes one look at Gamora, maybe even smiling with admiration, until some idiot calls out "Thanos's daughter!"

Their faces grow into some of pure horror and shock before they all start to scream and run, including Bereet.

Gamora's fake smile drops but she forgets to remove her hand from mine. She looks at me for a moment, "Thank you, Quill." She says genuinely with a slight smile that didn't exactly reach her eyes, but still meant something.

She actually thanked me.

"What would you do if you were really my girlfriend?" I smirk and she removes her hand, nudging me in the ribs and walking off.

We still had to find The Collector.

This chapter is extra long to make up for Chapter 3's laziness. Thank you again for reading, reviewing, following etc. because each and every one of you have been a big motivation and help to me writing this story.

What do you guys think of this chapter? What do you think of Peter and Gamora? Should I continue? Voice your opinion below! It'll only take a moment :)